Writers - Buyers Who Want Samples are Never Satisfied

[cyaxrex]

A while ago, I posted a rundown of all the reasons why good writers on Fiverr should never giveaway samples.

[so%20You%20Want%20to%20See%20Samples] Let me guess. You have arrived here because you are looking to hire a writer on Fiverr, but some of the people you have been messaging won’t let you see examples of their work. Why is that? Are they ignorant? Untalented? Best to be avoided? As a freelance writer, I get a lot of people asking to see samples of my work. Whether it is on Fiverr or elsewhere, everyone wants to try before they buy. As it stands, though, I politely refuse every request. When pe…

I received some backlash for this post. Yet I did eventually concede that offering samples might be a good idea. There is just one problem. I can’t use work which I have delivered to clients as samples without their conset. Neither can I link buyers to my pesonal blog. At least not without beaching TOS. (Don’t tell me to use Fiverr appoved links, they’re all awful.)

So, I found a solution. I could send samples in the form of PDF versions of posts from my personal blog. I also found a tool I could use to remove all identifying personal information on the delivered PDF document. i.e. My website URL and contact information.

I can’t upload a PDF here. However, typically when I send a sample. it looks like this:

In the case of someone asking for a sample, something like the above would be delivered as a 4 - 6 page PDF.

Sadly, every time I send a sample, I inevitably get the same response: A potential buyer wants more samples. They often also want a link to my website. In most cases (and I do not have just cryptocurrency samples) buyers also want a sample concerning X subject, written in X tone, and end requests with the immortal line “I will have a lot of work for you.”

In 3-months of experimenting with offering samples in this way, I haven’t had a single lead which has resulted in an order. This applies to Fiverr and several other freelance platfoms.

To me, the reason for this is simple. The vast majority of people who want samples, don’t want samples. They want free content. Of course, that is just my opinion. However, if other writers have a different experience, I want to know.

In my opinion, buyers who ask for samples are a red flag. If I’m wrong, tell me what your experiences are and how you deliver samples which convert. (I’m willing to be proved wrong 😉)

[misscrystal]

They probably don’t even read the sampes you send them.
Send them a bunch of nonsense garbled words next time.

[meldawn9]

Some guy asked me for a writing sample. I promptly directed him to that “A” site that my books are on. I don’t think I made a sale but at least someone looked! LOL

[meldawn9]

They probably don’t even read the sampes you send them.

Send them a bunch of nonsense garbled words next time.

I’d love to see the reaction from their clients when they deliver this as work of their own!

[lenasemenkova]

I get potential buyers who ask for “more samples”. It’s a code phrase for “Hello, I’m here to waste your time”.

It’s rarely just “samples” because there are 2 portfolios attached to both of my gigs so it’s kind of a silly request. But I agree, in general, samples talk doesn’t lead to anything productive.

[cyaxrex]

I get potential buyers who ask for “more samples”. It’s a code phrase for “Hello, I’m here to waste your time”.

It’s rarely just “samples” because there are 2 portfolios attached to both of my gigs so it’s kind of a silly request. But I agree, in general, samples talk doesn’t lead to anything productive.

I get potential buyers who ask for “more samples”. It’s a code phrase for “Hello, I’m here to waste your time”.

This is how I have always seen samples. I have tried to appease requests, This, though, is my last attempt. 🙂

[nickj2013]

Sometimes buyers want samples just so they can get something for nothing. Or if it’s writing samples, to use on their own Fiverr profiles.

[fastcopywriter]

Suppose I wanted to hire you to write for me, would you not show me work you’ve done for other clients? I always do that.

[nickj2013]

Suppose I wanted to hire you to write for me, would you not show me work you’ve done for other clients? I always do that.

If the work has already been licensed to another client? Then no I wouldn’t use it as a sample. In total, I think most people would feel more secure with the sample ask if they didn’t think their work would end up on someone elses seller profile, or be taken as a freebie.